Item: Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Rating: 3.00
Author: tweetybugshouse

by Melissa Bashardoust

SOMETIMES THE PRINCESS IS THE MONSTER

From the author of Girls Made of Snow and Glass, this captivating and utterly original Persian-inspired fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch is perfect for fans of Natasha Ngan and Naomi Novik.

'Monstrously beautiful and enchanting' Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand

There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away from everyone, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it's not just a story.

As the day of her twin brother's wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she's willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn't afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.

Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming . . . human or demon. Princess or monster.

First up I listened to this via @netgalley new app for audiobooks. The only issue that deterred me from being fully engulfed in the story is the echo from the narrator. I sure this is an app issue as i listen to many audiobooks so i hoping the next one will be less echoing. This is the tale of Soraya a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch and is hidden away from the world and her family as a result. This is a tale steeped in a few different stories from Persia and the author does a wonderful job of laying out all her research about where she came up with her inspiration at the end of the story. I rated this a 3 as it felt like a standard fairy tale, someone is cursed, she needs to find some magical object to life the curse, their a betrayal or two from someone they love and some sort of lesson is found along the way. I not sure i was expecting more then that from the story. I think what most drew me to the story is that it steeped in Persian mythology which is new to many and that what makes it different. So if your looking for a tale that takes one you know a bit about (sleeping beauty) and adds a twist to it then your in for a treat.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn

by Melissa Bashardoust

Reviewed by tweetybugshouse on Aug 18, 2020

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